Today Siyaya Khoza, coach at the Nedbank Soweto Development Club, is giving back in a way he knows best – by helping other young runners fulfil their athletic dreams.

To the athletes from the Nedbank Soweto Development Club, Siyaya is so much more than just a coach. He is a father figure and mentor, and he understands exactly what difficulties some of them go through just to be able to run and compete, because he was in exactly the same position. “If it wasn’t for my athletic ability and coaches who cared, I don’t know where I would be today,” says Siyaya, who today is giving back to the sport and helping others as he was helped.

Helping hand
An excellent example of Siyaya going over and above his duties as coach was when he welcomed a promising, but underprivileged athlete into his house in order to coach him properly full time. The 18-year-old Kutlwisiso Sidinile used to live with his unemployed mother in Bekkersdal, Westonaria, and joined Nedbank Running Club when he was in Grade 11. Siyaya became aware of Kutlwisiso’s running talents and coached him telephonically, but it proved a challenge and after getting permission from his mother, Kutlwisiso moved in with Siyaya. “Within 5 weeks his running already improved drastically,” says Siyaya.

Last year Kutlwisiso, a 1500m star, won an individual bronze medal at the South African Cross Country Championships. He was also crowned the South African Champion in 1500m running a blistering 3:52 to claim gold. The arrangement of living with Siyaya works like a dream. Not only is he in the best coaching hands, but he can also go to school in Rietvallei, South of Kagiso, where Siyaya has been a teacher for the last seven years.

Siyaya expects great things from Kutlwisiso and is confident that he will perform well at the upcoming SA Cross Country Champs in Potchefstroom.

In good hands
Siyaya comes with his own running pedigree. He has won 5 national titles (2 in Steeplechase and 3 in 1500m) while still at school, he has represented South Africa once, and still holds the fastest time (5.39) in Steeplechase for youth in the country.

“I grew up having nothing, and my only talent was my two good legs. I was fortunate enough to have teachers who cared for me right from primary school level up to high school. Through sport I was able to go to University and study a degree,” says Siyaya, who obtained his Honours Degree in Education from the University of Johannesburg.
A coach named Charl Naude first recognised Siyaya’s talent before introducing him to another great coach named Danie Lindeque. “Danie took me under his wing and became like a father to me, in a way a lot like I am to Kutlwisiso today. I want to give back to athletes today like it was given to me.”

The Nedbank sponsored Kutlwisiso has a fantastic attitude towards the sport and is very positive. He is prepared to work hard to get to the top. He has a great drive to win. “I see a bit of myself in Kutlwisiso. I keep on saying to him: ‘what you are going through now is exactly what I went through. It feels like I am reliving moments with you. But I want you to see yourself as a winner, a champion, and you will be one.’”

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